Man charged with fetal homicide in Bell County, indicted on child sexual abuse

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BELL COUNTY, Ky. – A man has been charged with fetal homicide in Bell County after allegedly kicking a pregnant woman.

According to the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 44-year-old Christopher Shipman of Cumberland received an additional charge of fetal homicide following his arrest.

Authorities say on or near October 28, 2019, Shipman “intentionally caused the death of an unborn child of a female victim who was 14 weeks pregnant at the time.”

The sheriff’s office says Shipman is accused of punching and kicking the pregnant victim in the stomach until she had labor pains and experienced an abortion.

According to deputies, this happened in front of the victim’s 5-year-old child.

Shipman allegedly then disposed of the remains in the toilet, according to the sheriff’s office.

In addition, Shipman was indicted Nov. 17 on two counts each of first-degree sodomy – victim under the age of 12 and first-degree sexual abuse – victim under the age of 12. He was also charged first-degree strangulation.

Shipman remains in the Bell County Detention Center.